Kardus Superior Blend 2009, a “Sneak peek” review of this year’s most elite snus brand!

Greetings Snustopians!

Well, it’s that time of the year again here in Snustopia, the time of year when most of the snus manufacturers release “Special Edition” snus flavors that are geared toward the holidays. These snus flavors are called “Julesnus” which loosely translates to English as “Christmas Snus” but Swedish Match doesn’t make a Julesnus, per say. “What about Kardus Snus Guy? Isn’t it a Christmas snus?” Actually it’s not. While Kardus is released at the end of the year, around the Christmas season, and is limited in its availability, it’s not a Julesnus. It’s something better!



While I haven’t received this year’s Kardus offering yet, (I did place my advanced order on Northerner.com!) I did get a brochure that explains a bit about Kardus 2009. I don’t want to do a full review of Kardus 2009 until I get the actual snus, I did want to give you a small overview on what can be expected of this year’s offering. If you’ve read the review we did on Kardus 2008, you’ll already know most of what we’re going to learn today but, if you’re a new Snustopian, you’ll see why Kardus is the most elite of all snus brands and why it’s only released in limited quantities, for a limited time!

Along with being touted as the world’s most elite snus brand, it’s also known as the world’s most expensive snus. “Just how expensive is it Snus Guy?” well, mine cost $64 USD at Northerner.com but, before you all start throwing snus cans at me, let me tell you about how Kardus is made and you’ll understand why it’s so expensive.
First off, Kardus is made from only two different types of very special tobaccos which are both cured differently giving each one a unique flavor. The first tobacco type is from the Salta province of Argentina which is at the base of the Andes Mountains. This tobacco is cultivated in a unique blend of light clay soils and sun-cured which gives the tobacco a flavor that’s been described as being sweet, fruity, spicy and yeasty with hints of tea.

The second tobacco type comes from the Nueva Concepcion and La Maquina districts of Guatemala. This district in Southwest Guatemala grows a specific type of tobacco that’s air-cured in curing barns that are made from cultivated Eucalyptus trees. This tobacco has a tropical flavor that includes notes of chocolate, nuts and fruit which are the perfect complement of flavors to the Salta tobacco. Using these two hand selected and unique tobaccos is one of the reasons that Kardus is an elite snus but there’s more to Kardus than the tobacco, the next step is just as important!
If you’re a long time Snustopian, you’ve most likely read the review of the snus process it’s self where we learned the tobacco for snus is typically ground, stalks, leaves ribs and all go into the grinder to produce the snus we all know and love but here is where Kardus is very different.

The tobacco for Kardus is hand cut rather than ground and only the leaves are used in the making of Kardus. In fact, the stalk content in Kardus is between .2% and .5% which is even much lower than the amount allowed in making some of the world’s finest Cigars! This method of hand cutting makes the pieces of tobacco much larger than the typical loose snus and some care needs to be taken when hand baking a prilla but the trade off is a milder, more complex flavor! After the tobacco is cut, salt is added and it’s allowed to sweat and ready to be stored. Before it goes into storage, it gets a very special and unique addition, 25 year old Guatemalan Rum!

“Hey Snus Guy, rum is rum! What makes this Guatemalan Rum so special?” Hold on a minute, the “rum is rum” theory is not true. Some rum brands are likened to fine cognac! In fact, they are also graded in a similar way. But, this is a Kardus review, not a rum review so, let’s get back to that.

Swedish Match chose this type of flavoring for a couple of reasons. One is the well known fact that alcohol is a natural flavor enhancer and helps the flavors in tobacco to come out and marry better. Second, the subtle flavors of caramel, Hazelnuts and Nutmeg in the rum will add to the overall tropical taste and Caribbean feel that Swedish Match is aiming for with Kardus 2009!

While Swedish Match has been producing Kardus since 2005 with last year’s offering being the first I’ve experienced, it’s looking like this year’s version will be one of their best yet. Kardus is due to be released for sale in Week 44 (First week in November) and in a limited run, you can do what I did and place a pre-order for it at Snustopia’s only place for snus, Northerner.com, and if this is your first time ordering from them, you can get 10% off you order at checkout by simply clicking on the banner to the right. This week only, you can also save even more since they’re offering free shipping on all orders between October 25th and October 31st to celebrate their 10 year anniversary!

Well Snustopians, once I receive my order of Kardus 2009 Superior Blend, I’ll post a full review on the actual taste but until then, as always,

Happy Snusing!

That Snus Guy

Göteborgs Rapé White portion snus, an American taste review on one of Sweden’s most popular brands!

Welcome back Snustopians!

Today I thought we’d take a closer look at what could possibly be one of Sweden’s most popular snus brands, Göteborgs Rapé White portion snus. I came to this decision last week when I was sitting in my office at the Ministry of Information, looking at the pictures I took of my trip to Gothenburg and remembering everything I learned and saw there. One of the things I remembered was that almost 75% of the time I was there, I was using Göteborgs Rapé White and, so were some of the people I met at the factory! The other reason was the fact that Swedish Match recently changed the design of the labels in the entire Göteborgs Rapé line and I’ve read at quite a few sites describing the labels but, not too many actually reviewed the snus its self so, I decided that I would do a proper review of this popular snus. Now, if you’re ready, let’s give Göteborgs Rapé White portion snus the review it deserves and yes, we’ll take a look at the can too!


One of the most intriguing things about Swedish snus, from an American’s point of view, is the fact that there are so many different brands and flavors. Think about it, there are over 160 different flavors, if you include the different variations in the total number, and we as new snus users, are committed to trying every one! 90% of these 160 are made in Sweden but, when you actually go to Sweden, you’ll only see about half of the entire line in the shops. As we learned in the 01 & 02 reviews, the Swedish snus user is pretty particular in which snus they use and what they want it to be. Göteborgs Rapé White is one of the snus brands you’ll find in almost every shop in Sweden and a brand that a lot of snus users love. “Snus Guy, what makes Göteborgs Rapé White so special?” Well, let’s take a look at what’s in it and find out!

First off, Göteborgs Rapé White portion is a snus brand made by the folks a Swedish Match and was first released 1992. In the past 17 years, it has grown to be the fourth largest selling snus brand in Sweden and the only thing that’s changed in its 17 year history was the recent change to the can’s label. Göteborgs Rapé White portion is classified as a White type snus which means that the portions do not go thru the final step in the process that adds moisture to them. Omitting the additional moisture leaves the material its original white color and, you would think, a bit rough on the gums. With Göteborgs Rapé, this is not the case! Swedish Match uses the same soft, teabag like material that they use in all of their snus brands and is actually pretty comfortable in the lip. I’ve had a portion in for over 2 hours with no discomfort whatsoever. The only thing that did happen was my lip did get a bit wrinkly but I attribute that to keeping it in too long. Each can of Göteborgs Rape White portion has 24, one gram portions with each having a respectable 8 mg of Nicotine. My recommendation for keeping a portion in is about 2 hours max for full enjoyment! Now, let’s take a look at the change to the label and take a closer look at the can!

“Hey Snus Guy, please don’t let your can obsession get the better of you this time! Some of us have to work in the morning you know!” I know, I know, I can get a bit windy when it comes to the cans and I’ll try to keep it brief! First off, the cans that Göteborgs Rapé White portion come in are made of gold plastic with a used portion compartment concealed in the lid but the unique thing is the label! Both the old label and the new label are made of blue plasticized paper with a foil look to it. The differences between the old label and the new are the bigger blue background and the omission of the gold bands on the new label. The other change is that Swedish Match gave Göteborgs Rapé a logo of sorts. On the sides and the lid, you’ll see the letters “G” and “R” in gold and that they are connected. This makes sense since most people refer to the snus as GR when typing. Ok, I hope you’re all still awake because I’m done with the can and we can now move on to the flavor!

Swedish Match describes Göteborgs Rapé White’s flavor as being a distinctly aromatic snus with some sweetness and hints of fresh herbs. “Snus Guy, ALL Swedish snus has a distinctly aromatic smell!” Now, now! Take it easy! I said that was what Swedish Match describes the snus as. We’ll break it down like we always do but I want to take a side trip and explain something I think needs to be explained, especially to you new Snustopians! There’s been a lot of talk at other snus sites and forums about whether or not to smell the snus. Most say that smelling the snus is the worst thing you can do and will ruin the experience for you. I disagree. Yes, there is a distinct ammonia smell to some of the brands but, this is a regular occurrence and a natural byproduct of the snus making process. As you get more accustom to using snus, you’ll soon forget the ammonia smell and begin to get the hints of earthy tobacco and the other flavorings. So, let’s leave this topic with this thought; if you don’t care for the ammonia scent, don’t smell the snus in the beginning. As you gain more experience, slowly begin to lightly smell the can and you’ll begin to get the other subtle nuances. Remember, if the vintners in California let the vinegar smell, in the early stages of some varietals, get to them, we wouldn’t have so many great wines here in the states! Ok, back to the flavors.

What I get in Göteborg’s Rapé White is an earthy, leathery flavor, which comes from the tobacco, with a bit of salt and some peppery notes. The background flavor is sweet but this comes from the other flavoring, Juniper. For those Snustopians that don’t know what Juniper is or tastes like, it’s a berry that comes from certain Evergreen trees that grow in Sweden and the Northwestern American states. Its taste is bit sweet and bitter at the same time. It’s the primary flavoring in Gin but, the snus does not taste like Gin. When it’s mixed in with tobacco, it gets an almost tea like flavor and adds a touch of forest smell in the can. Kind of reminds me of walking thru an Evergreen forest in the fall with the mossy hints and Evergreen scents! All the flavors combine to give Göteborgs Rapé White portion a flavor that lasts quite a long time as well. I’ve had the flavor of Göteborgs Rapé White last for well over two hours before the flavor began to go a bit off so, I recommend about two hours max for the flavor. These elements combine to create, what I think, is a snus that is uniquely Swedish and explains why Göteborgs Rapé White portion is so popular in Sweden. So, what drinks would go well with it? Let’s take a look!

My Staple Diet Coke actually went well with Göteborgs Rapé White surprisingly enough! The Diet Coke did do well to bring out the peppery flavor in the snus and cut a bit of the saltiness but, it really didn’t do anything to enhance the flavor of the tobacco or the Juniper flavor. Monster Energy Drink basically overpowered the flavor completely but iced black tea was the overall winner in the Non Alcoholic drink category! The Black tea’s flavor did well to bring out the tobacco flavor as well as giving the Juniper a helping hand. Göteborgs Rapé White’s flavor actually gave the iced tea another dimension in flavor as well. From an Alcoholic drinks point of view, the obvious choice would be a Gin and Tonic but, since I don’t drink anymore, I’ll leave this part of the review to those Snustopians that do! Now, let’s go to the overall recommendation!

My overall recommendations for Göteborgs Rapé White portion snus, Snustopians, are this; it’s easy to see why Göteborgs Rapé White is one of Sweden’s most popular snus brands. From its comfortable portion material to its unique tobacco and Juniper flavor, it is definitely one of a kind. New Snustopians will like Göteborgs Rapé White’s lighter and long lasting flavor and seasoned Snustopians will like it as an all day snus with its 8 mg of Nicotine and comfortable portion material but, I’ll let you make the final decision!

Each can of Göteborgs Rapé White portion averages around $3.80 USD at Snustopia’s only place to buy Swedish snus, The Northerner.com! If this is your first time purchasing from them, just click on the banner to the left and get 10% off your first order at check out! There are no codes to enter just click and save! Just remember to tell em’ That Snus Guy sent you!

Well Snustopians, I hope you enjoyed our tour of Göteborgs Rapé White portion snus by Swedish Match and found it fun and informative. I look forward to reading and answering any questions or comments you may have and will answer them as soon as I can!

So Snustopians, as always,

Happy Snusing!

That Snus Guy

Northerner Energy snus, our first dry, purified Nicotine snus review!

Greetings Snustopians!

This week I thought we’d take a look at a snus type that is pretty unique to the Swedish snus world, the dry, purified type. The brand we’ll start with is also pretty unique to the snus world, Northerner Energy snus. “Snus Guy, there are dry portion snus brands out there, quite a few actually so, what makes this type different and unique?” Well, there are brands out there that are typed as “dry” but they still have a bit of moisture in the snus its self. With the dry type we’ll discuss today, there is no moisture in the snus whatsoever! There are also “Energy” snus on the market too but only one that combines them both! So, knowing this, grab a comfy seat, your favorite can of snus and let’s take a look at Dry, purified snus types and Northerner Energy snus!



Ever since the day I created Snustopia, I’ve wanted to review Northerner Energy snus but always hesitated to try it. Why, you ask? Well, it was mainly due to what I’ve read about it and Dry, purified snus in general. If you read comments on the other snus sites out there you can get a feeling for how the Swedish snus world feels about this type of snus. Some praise it but most of them condemn it and say that Dry, purified type snus isn’t really Swedish snus because the tobacco is a powder and real Swedish snus is supposed to be moist. The other thing you’ll read is that some snus users think that the snus its self is made by a subpar snus manufacturer because it looks like the inside of the cans are dirty. Well Snustopians, I hope to debunk these myths in this review and the first one we’ll tackle is the myth about Northerner Energy snus being “non-Swedish” snus!

A common misnomer among new snus users is the theory that true Swedish snus is made in Sweden. Well, while the majority of snus is made there, there are a few brands that are not. V2 snus brands are, for example, made in Denmark but made in the Swedish tradition to the high Swedish standards. Northerner Energy snus is made in Sweden by Snusbruket and also made to the high Swedish standards but, unlike V2’s snus, Snusbruket snus brands are dry. That leads us to the reason some snus users think that Northerner energy snus is “non-Swedish”, the fact that it’s really dry!

“But Snus Guy, there are snus brands out there that are dry, what makes Northerner Energy snus different?” It’s the fact that Snusbruket makes snus that is totally devoid of moisture. While they make Northerner Energy snus, it’s only one of a few brands they make. The best known brands they make are Oomph and Wise. What makes them unique is the fact that they are the only Swedish snus company to make a completely dry snus! If you take a look at the tobacco inside the teabag like portion material you’ll see that the tobacco is basically like a powder. This is also the reason why the inside of the can looks like there’s finely ground dirt in it. It’s from the powdered tobacco which is brown in color and really does resemble dirt dust but, take my word for it, it’s not! So for those that think the factory is subpar or dirty remember this, no matter if Swedish snus is manufactured moist or dry, it still has to pass the Swedish food agency’s strict standards so rest assured, Northerner Energy snus as well as the other Snusbruket varieties, are quality, Swedish snus. Ok, back to the review!

One would also think that a snus portion completely devoid of moisture would be really uncomfortable under the lip but, on the contrary, the portion is pretty comfortable under the lip for over 2 hours! They do, however, take a bit of getting used to. First, the portion it’s self is smaller than the typical portion and is pretty close in size to a Mini. They are also much thinner than a portion of moist snus due to the tobacco being dry and less is needed. The tobacco is also purified and has 6 mg of purified Nicotine in it and 0.3 grams of tobacco. I also found that when you first put a portion of Northerner Energy in the lip, it can stick a bit but, a quick dabbing of your gums with your tongue and the same on the portion quickly takes care of that issue. I’ve had a portion in for over 2 hours with no discomfort whatsoever. “Whoa Snus Guy, back the truck up a bit! What is this “Purified” thing?” Yea, I thought that would throw you! Let’s take a closer look.

Northerner Energy snus, as well as the rest of Snusbruket’s snus, goes thru a process that actually removes the unwanted contaminants in tobacco such as TSNA’s or Nitrosamines and leaves a tobacco product that’s pure tobacco and Nicotine. What this does for the snus is make the 6 mg of Nicotine feel more like 8 mg. The purification process does something else to the snus, it lightens the flavor of the snus but, I’m getting ahead of myself, let’s finish the mechanics first then, we’ll look at the flavor. If you look at the can, you’ll see that Northerner Energy snus also keeps your breath fresh and your teeth white! In my time using Northerner Energy snus, I have had fresher breath and my teeth stayed white while the portion was in but I know your saying “Does it taste like toothpaste Snus Guy?” No. What does these things is the addition of Baking Soda to the snus.

Baking soda has been the teeth cleaner of choice for centuries. Even now, there are toothpastes that have baking soda added to help keep teeth white. Snusbruket adds a minute amount of baking soda to all their snus for this reason. If you’ve been a long time Snustopian, you’ll know that using Swedish snus can cause your teeth to stain a bit and with some people, make your breath smell. With Northerner Energy, this is not an issue and it’s due to both the baking soda and the fact that the portions really don’t juice up. Another unique thing about Northerner Energy snus is the can. The can is basically an oval shape and much flatter than the standard snus can. There are 2 compartments in the white plastic can, one on the bottom which holds the 24, 3 gram portions and a smaller compartment on the top that holds used portions. Both lids are hinged at the middle of the can and topped with a paper label. “Snus Guy, can we talk about the flavor now?” I know I’ve rambled a bit but, Northerner Energy snus is a pretty unique snus and a lot needed to be said about the snus its self so, now that you know the snus, let’s get to the flavor!

Northerner describes its snus as having flavors of peppermint and honey with a cool boost. They also say it’s an energy boosting snus due to it having Caffeine, Taurine and Guarana. For those that are not fans of Energy drinks, like yours truly, these three ingredients, along with the Nicotine, give a pretty good boost of energy and, minus the Nicotine, are the three main ingredients in most energy drinks like Monster and Red Bull. What I taste in Northerner is honey with a touch of sourness, which I think comes from the Taurine and Guarana, along with the slightest hint of tobacco flavor. There is however a baking soda taste in the first couple of minutes but quickly dissipates as the portion gets moist. There is also a light pepper flavor as the portion sits in. What I also got was an energy boost and a bit lightheaded after about 10 minutes. This is from the energy ingredients but the Nicotine can also be added to that mix because since the snus is purified, it allows the Nicotine to be absorbed quicker than the standard portion. There is a dark side to Northerner Energy snus and it shows up after about an hour and a half.

I’ve had the flavor of Northerner Energy snus last for about 1 ½ hours when the portion went from lightly flavored to really bitter! It truly sneaks up on you because the overall flavor is relatively light. I think of it as a reminder that it’s time to change it out. My overall recommendation for keeping a portion in is about 1 ½ hours max for both the flavor and comfort! Ok, we’ve learned about what exactly a dry, purified portion is, busted a few of the myths associated with it, learned what “purified snus” is and what Northerner Energy snus tastes like so, let’s take a look at what drinks go well with it!

If you’re an Energy drink fan, like me, give Northerner Energy snus a try with a Monster or a Red Bull! It’s the perfect snus to give them an added kick in the energy department but, since Northerner Energy’s flavor is pretty light, it’s only good for the energy kick and really does nothing for the flavor. I’ve tried coffee with Northerner Energy and it had the same effect as the energy drinks, adds a kick but didn’t compliment the flavor. I had a hard time finding something that would enhance the flavor of the snus it’s self and found that the new white iced teas that are out seemed to bring the subtle honey and tobacco flavors out. Not like it does with a standard snus portion but just enough to sense them on the back of the tongue. If you’re looking for a snus that has a flavor that won’t impede the flavor of anything you care to drink and give you an added energy boost, Northerner Energy snus is the one!

My overall recommendations for Northerner Energy snus, Snustopians, are this; new Snustopians will really like Northerner Energy for a few reasons. One, the flavor is extremely light. The Nicotine level is also perfect for those beginning their snus journey along with the fact there is no juicing of the portion. Experienced Snustopians will like Northerner Energy for the same reasons as well as the fact that it really does keep your teeth white and breath fresh. The smaller portions also make the snus much more discreet while delivering the same Nicotine kick as the standard portion does but, I’ll let you make the final decision!

Northerner Energy snus can be found exclusively at Snustopia’s favorite snus shop, Northerner.com, and is priced at $3.94 USD a can. If this is your first time ordering with them, just click on the banner to the left and get 10% off your first order at checkout! With a deal like that, what a perfect time to give Northerner Energy snus a try! Just tell them That Snus Guy sent you!

Well Snustopians, I hope you enjoyed our tour thru Northerner Energy snus by Snusbruket and found it fun and informative. I look forward to your questions and comments and will do my best to answer them as soon as I can.

So, until our next review Snustopians, as always,

Happy Snusing!

That Snus Guy